Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 166: Demure Or Not?

Chapter 166: Demure Or Not?

Sitting in the couch in the living area, Talia poured herself a glass of water and wanted to go through the comments of the hundred articles written about her recent encounter with Vivian and the press. She was amazed the speed these reporters work.

Rebecca stopped Talia and took it upon herself to go through the comment section of the articles. She didn’t want Talia to get hurt in case there were negative comments.

"Sir Robert, you didn’t stop me from speaking out to the press. Why is that?" Talia asked Mr. Ed who was sitting in front of her. She didn’t regret speaking out, but she wondered how her behaviour will be accepted by the people of Rosandale. She really couldn’t understand the smile embedded in Mr. Ed’s face.

" You think our great citizens of Rosandale might find you uncouth?" Mr. Ed smiled, "You stood up for your right. Meeting your grandfather is your right and so is Northern Star. Actually, no Princess of Rosandale would be expected to bow her head and accept what is thrown at her by others; especially the High Council of Esteria."

Talia nodded with a smile. How did she forget the differences between Esteria and Rosandale? And what she spoke today was about her own grandfather. Majority of sane people won’t be able to find fault with her.

" Your grandpa must have a very good name in your country, Tallie...many are wishing him well and are sympathising with him. Many are asking the Council to let him meet you..."

Rebecca was all smiles as she read the comments. But there were still some vile comments invoking Cyrus’ death and that she is a monster and that Jerome Brunton would be much safer away from Talia.

Vile trolls! They don’t matter.

Talia smiled seeing the joy in Rebecca’s face. Rebecca was happy as if people were talking on her own behalf.

As Rebecca was talking to Talia while scrolling through her comments, the door opened and in came that tall, handsome figure with red hair. At one glance Talia could see the worry in his face.

He feels bad now? Idiot Fred!

Mr. Ed stood up to welcome Arthur but was surprised to see Talia with no reaction in her face saying, " Mr. Ed I’m not free to meet anyone now." Saying this she casually looked at her phone and started playing.

Rebecca couldn’t keep her laughter in even after closing her mouth with both her hands and let out a sniffle.

Mr. Ed looked at Arthur with a straight gaze and found that Arthur was too unhappy by the way his Princess dismissed him. He was glaring at Rebecca who still was trying to hold her laughter.

Mr. Ed felt bad for Arthur, but it is his duty to listen to his princess and so he will follow this order of her too; without exception.

"Iris, are you throwing me out?" Arthur really was distressed.

From the moment she saw that photograph of her grandfather on a wheelchair, he could feel the air around her turn cold. His heart couldn’t handle the pain, when she didn’t even accept the water he poured for her and avoided his touch afterwards.

So he finished the press meet and ran to her to explain that picture was staged and he didn’t tell her about it to make her raw emotion shown on live TV, to prove those who dismiss her as a heartless monster who killed her Knight, to see clearly that she is a human with a heart and emotions too.

And his plan worked perfectly! She gained herself massive sympathy, but why does he feel like he lost her?

He could understand her. She must be feeling betrayed by him for hiding that fact. She might even misunderstand that he deliberately kept her grandfather’s condition from her and lied to her. She might think her grandfather is gravely sick.

"Mr. Sinclair, kindly -" Mr. Ed patted Arthur’s shoulder and politely asked him to leave.

"Iris, I need to talk to you..." Arthur pleaded with Talia not even looking at Mr. Ed.

"Rebecca, did you..." Talia heard him but decided not to answer him. She felt bad for him, but she was more angry at him for not telling her the truth beforehand and made her worry and even cry. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw that picture of her grandfather.

What would he do if she actually died?

How heartless! Because of him, I cried stupidly in front of millions!

Arthur tried to take a step forward but felt the hand on his shoulder stopping him. His anger level got high as he looked at Mr. Ed trying to stop him from getting to his Iris.

How dare he!

"Mr. Sinclair, the Princess will get to you when she calms down," he spoke but was only met with Arthur’s angry glare.

Who is he to stop me from meeting my Iris.?

"Iris!" he raised his voice and as he observed her, she didn’t move her head but he could say she is checking him out using her peripheral vision.

This silly woman! She thinks I can’t see her side-eyeing me? Just hours ago she said I’m important enough for her to break Royal protocols for me and now she is willing to throw me out? Hmpf! Like I will leave.

He was enraged.

Arthur suddenly picked up his pace and ran towards the couch, jumping over it and got to Talia and picked her up in only a couple of seconds.

Talia didn’t expect the dark figure approaching her in lightning speed and the next moment she felt herself floating on air while a pair of strong arms picked her up and her arms were flailing as she dropped her phone on the couch out of fright.

She was stunned for a second but seeing that extremely handsome face close to her, she turned her face and shouted. "Let me go you nasty ginger Fred!" she tried to get down flailing her arms and legs, but as it turned out, he still was much stronger than her.

Is he going to take me to the bedroom? Why?

She glared at Rebecca who was laughing out loud and held out her hand at Mr. Ed who was stunned to see what was happening in front of his eyes. He was about to reach out to her but Rebecca stopped him.

"Sir Robert, leave them be... Let’s not get involved in the spat between lovers. Only we will get humiliated," she said standing up and stretching herself. "Let me have some snacks," she waked to the refrigerator, not minding the screams of Talia.

"Rebecca, you traitor!" Talia gritted her teeth still trying to get out of Arthur’s grip and failed miserably. Mr. Ed looked at the pair and couldn’t decide what he should do. As far as he guessed, it is a lover’s tiff and he cannot interfere, but as her guard, what should he do? He decided to be vigilant in case their fight escalated. In that case he won’t think twice to throw Arthur out.

Arthur holding her with one arm, opened the bedroom door and walked towards the bed after pushing the door to close. Both of them didn’t notice that the door didn’t close completely and was slightly ajar.

He placed her on the bed, gently and immediately hugged her.

"Get away from me you rascal! You lying idiot! You made me cry!" she shouted and tried to push him away from her, but failed.

" Your grandfather is perfectly fine and that photograph was staged. I wanted your reaction to be authentic since this is a Live broadcast and I even hired a renowned body language expert to weigh in her opinions on you.There soon will be articles and videos released about this press meet in Esteria. You are in PR. You understand why I did this right? Iris?"

Arthur let go of her and looked at her blue eyes, misty with tears. He was happy she isn’t wearing that awful coloured lenses anymore. Such beautiful eyes must not be veiled.

Talia was not an irrational person. She understood the logic behind his words and was already coaxed. She felt the gentle aura around him, the one she always is accustomed to, no matter what - even if she acts unreasonable.

She stared at him for an entire minute without saying anything. She knew he is right but she couldn’t accept that she cried on Live TV. She must have looked so ugly.

"Hmpf!"

She snorted and lied on the bed, covering her face with a pillow, showing her back to him. The entire mattress shook as she plopped on the bed and Arthur knew she wasn’t angry anymore but just pouting.

"Come on, Iris... Show me your face. You looked so pretty on camera... Get up. Punch me in the face if you’re still mad at me..."

Arthur used every method he knows to get her look at him.

"Punch you?" Talia peeked out from the pillow. Arthur couldn’t see her pretty eyes clearly as her messy hair was sprawled all over her face. He naturally wanted to fix those unruly hair hindering his view, but his hand was slapped off.

She still is acting mad?

" Do you think I’m a violent person who punches someone; anyone in their face? How dare you! Fred you dummy, I hate you! You’re a bully, " she shouted and covered her face with the pillow once again.

Arthur could only blink.

" I reckon you forgot what you did... Princess! " he spoke in a mocking tone and smiled seeing her stiffening up.

Talia was angered by his mocking tone. Who in this world can accuse her of being a bully? She decided to refute him.

" What? What did I do? I’m gentle as a breeze and graceful as a swan.... Even the angels in heaven don’t have the demure temperament like I -"

"Demure? You?" Arthur couldn’t help but laugh.

What a joke!

"You..." Talia couldn’t take it lying down anymore and sat up. "How could you accuse me of being aggressive?" she hit him with the pillow.

Arthur seeing her messed up appearance, blocked her soft hits with his elbow and laughed out loud.

Yeah! Hitting me with a pillow looking dishevelled like she is in a bar brawl is not aggressive at all!

"Look at that. This demure Princess is attacking me with a pillow, gritting her teeth. There is fire coming out of her mouth and smoke out of her ears. Even her hair is all sticking out like it was burnt... What a demure dragon..."

"Stop it!" Talia didn’t want to hear him speak. She was not ready for the truth.

"You pinched me in the thigh during lunch, you hurled profanities at me when I lived with you, you plucked my hair,..."

Arthur continued

"Ahh! Stop it! You nasty Fred! I’m going to kill you if you dare say I’m not demure!" Talia couldn’t bear Arthur laughing at her and lunged at him and he laid flat on the bed faking surprise and feigned surrender.

Mr. Ed who was listening from the outside, gently locked the door with a relieved smile. He was worried for a moment seeing the rage in Arthur’s eyes some moments ago. They’ve done their research on Arthur Sinclair and they’ve found him to be ruthless to his enemies and not so close with anyone.

This did make him worried. He didn’t want their gentle Princess who is soft-spoken to end up with someone with short-temper and get her life ruined with unhappiness.

But turns out Arthur is not that short-tempered with their Princess and their Princess is not that soft-spoken with Arthur.

This is good!